But the tragic reality is that this scourge continues to thrive in the 21st century. We are here this morning to shine a spotlight on the modern slave trade and to encourage all of our colleagues here in the Senate to work with us to end it. An estimated 27 million people are trapped in the multibillion dollar marketplace that trafficks in slaves. Victims include forced migrant laborers. bonded laborers. and sex slaves. including women forced into marriages as de facto slaves. Tragically. as we have heard. children account for the majority of modern slaves. many of them trafficked and sexually exploited. Lets be clear.